Tony Ferguson minds his own business and he invites others to do the same.
The top UFC lightweight contender thinks the critics questioning his weight cut for the original cancelled date should find something better to do. Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) was scheduled to fight short-notice replacement Justin Gatheje in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. The event was rescheduled to Saturday and moved from Native American land in California to Jacksonville, Fla. due to coronavirus restrictions.
With several more weeks to prepare for a cutdown to 155 pounds, Ferguson decided to make championship weight on his originally scheduled weigh-in day of April 17 anyway. Many questioned Ferguson’s decision, as he would have to make the same weight three weeks later.
“(Expletive) those guys, those guys are a bunch of (expletives),” Ferguson said in a Tuesday media teleconference promoting the May 9 event. “I’m going to be real with you, just because they’ve never wrestled, they’ve never been in the sport, they have their opinions. And even people that make weight have their opinions, but you know what, it doesn’t matter.
The next time I worry about what someone else is doing is never, dude. I’ve never worried about other’s opinions, other talk how they would do that kind of shit. That’s cool, man. OG, original genius, I’m going to go out there do my best and I’m going to walk away a man win or lose, but we’re going to go out there and get that W.”
Some see the unnecessary cut as admirable, as it highlights Ferguson’s toughness, will power and dedication to his craft. Yet, for “El Cucuy” is just another day in the life of a fighter.
“I didn’t think it was that impressive at all,” Ferguson said. “Justin Gatheje can vouch for this one too. When you’re a wrestler, you make weight every weekend, so it just seemed like the right thing to do. There wasn’t much (expletive) going on, so it was something to watch and look forward to.
“It wasn’t easy, I’ll be real with you. It was actually pretty difficult. I didn’t have my nutritionist or anybody with me, so just handle it the way I knew how and took the rein by own hands and went out there and just (expletive) did it. Like I said before, there want anything going on, so to me it just made (expletive) sense, man.”
Tony Ferguson on extra weight-cut critics: 'Those guys are a bunch of (expletives)'
